§ MR. DEASYasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If his attention has been drawn to a meeting of fishermen, fishbuyers, and boat owners held in the Kinsale Court House on Monday 20th instant, when it was unanimously resolved to ask the herring fishermen (who are mostly from Scotland) not to commence herring fishing until May 11th, on the ground that, if carried on earlier, it would materially injure the mackerel fishing; and, whether, in view of the large and representative character of the said meeting, and largeness of the interest involved, he will direct the Inspectors of Fisheries to hold an inquiry into the matter as soon as possible?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANI think it would be desirable to have an inquiry into this subject, and the Inspectors inform me they are quite ready to hold one. They point out, however, that a bye-law, fixing the 11th of May for the commencement of the herring fishing, even if it should be determined upon, could not come into operation for this season; and that the result of an inquiry held now could not bind the fishermen this year, though, perhaps, they might of themselves acquiesce in any arrangement that might be come to at the inquiry. I do not know that this is very likely; but I will leave it to the Inspectors themselves to fix a date, having regard to their other engagements.